History

The New Zealand Sikh Women’s Association (NZSWA) was founded in 2002 by a group of migrant women.

The association came into existence as a community response to an acknowledged need to support women experiencing domestic violence in a new country.

The primary clients of NZSWA are women, family and children within the South East Asian community living in South Auckland and Counties Manukau who were experiencing domestic violence.

Taking into account the changing social environment, NZSWA identified the need for an holistic approach of strengthening and empowering migrant families who experience the dynamics of family violence while resettling into a new society.

People in the community face so many problems in their daily life because of language barriers. They don’t understand their rights in this new country.

Initially the association met fortnightly at Otahuhu Sikh temple having prayers and dinner. As we were growing bigger and getting clients from community, we moved over to a small room at 214 Great South Road, Otahuhu.